The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-07-23

the back. Surely there is a charm
about the word "Home."
BE il ever 50 humble.
There's no place like home"
But | am anticipating my story and
revealing little weakness, which |
am sure is pardonabie, viz: thought of
home first.
Steaming out from New York Har-
Dor in the GREYHOUND of the Attain
tic" we were soon off Sandy Hook,
and in few short hours out OF sight
of land with fair wind, and the en-
gines making 81 revolutions per min
ute. Perhaps, just here | ought to de
scribe the Alaska" She was built
by Jno. Elder u IONS of Glasgow,
and her horse power is 1900. | was
informed by a good authority that 100
fireman are employed doing nothing
else but shoyeling coal for the engines
Two hundred and sixty tons Of coal
are consumed every day. The steam
er is beautifully fitted up with bath
room, smoking-rOom, drawing room,
piano and library. The electric light
is used, and altogether the steamer
presents the appearance Of a little
town upon the mighty deep. The
screw Of the steamer, | was told, is
about - feet in diameter, and it real
ly seems impossible that such a small
screw in proportion to the size of the
steamer, could propel such massive
body as $500 tons through the water
at Tie rate Of eighteen knots per hour.
Nothing Of any Importance transpir-
ed on the voyage, the ocean was fairly
calm and our good ship made record
of 425 miles one day. We had On
board with Us the Consul General of
the United States 70 the British Court
"a very amiable gentleman indeed.
He told US a good story. During his
stay in London us Consul-General a
man waited upon him, declaring that
he was an American citizen and claim
ing his patronage in an invention he
had just discovered. Like a faithful
steward the General acquicsced, and
was surprised to learn that his Ameri'
can 81 brothers invention purported
to be Il thought machine. you can
command any Thought you like, said
the genius and At your beheat starI-
ing revelations can be made to fash
from this machine as sparks from an
anvil". At this stage, he produced a
small machine with Il handle to it af-
ter the fashion Of street hand organ
and proceeded to evolve some thoughts
by winding up the machine. The
Consul-Gcncral soon perceived that
tie man was u maniac, and giving him
an eyasiye answer, the thought-mach-
inc inventor retired. BY the next mail
the General received a most abusive
letter from his fellow citizen declaring
that he was no gentleman, and unfit
for his position, and that he should
write to the President insisting upon
his removal Immediately.
The sequel Of the whole affair was
that the American citizen found him
self in an English prison a few days
after for demanding admittance into
Windsor Castle, based upon the fact
that he was a very near relative to
Her Majesty, the Queen of England
He was, Of course soon released, after
medical examination.
As the General and | were walking
up and down tie hurricane deck he
abruptly stopped and exclaimed Why,
there is the very man, | belieye" and
his opinion was confirmed in find
ing that the gentleman in question
had another mania, and claimed that
he was in the army during the war
and everybody he met on the deck he
addressed as Captain, General, or
some other martial title. Poor fellow,
He is perfectly harmless and if the
thought is any comfort to him, why
cannot he have it? II would be pity
t. deprive him Of that little pleasure.
Nap on begged but one favor when
he was banished to ST. Helena: he
wished to be called emperor. I'm
perial titles became mania TO him,
and his relentless couquerors deprived
him Of this empty one Is it true that
man glories in the downfall Of his fell
low?
We had services on board on the
Sunday. 1t was the Episcopal form
and the Captain read the prayers.
lie seemed TO be most reverential and
| enjoyed the service. Imagine my
disgust 10 hear him swearing yocifer-
ou>ly oil the dock day or two after.